If you’re looking for a UK podcasters community you may have found tumbleweed online – until now. There are plenty of communities in the United States – both online and offline – PodCamps, podcasting meetups, conventions that target podcasters and high quality podcasts for podcasters.
New Media Expo Crowd
We just returned from New Media Expo in Las Vegas and were so inspired by the people we met out there. It’s been amazing to be amongst people who are so incredibly passionate about their cause – from lawyers to nurses and firemen to athletes – one thing that unites all of them is the dream to build their own online presence and business from home using social media, blogging, web TV and (of course) podcasting! Izabela and I got to thinking. Why can’t we exchange ideas and meet with a set of like minded people when we’re at home in the UK and not just wait once a year to go to the mega conference that is NMX?
Why Do We Keep Talking About Podcasting?
If you’re working in radio right now and listening to our podcast you may ask what is all this chat about podcasting? The reason we keep repeating our message is because we are so passionate about it and podcasting is growing at a crazy rate.
UK Podcasts
Around 90% of the podcasts I listen to originate from the US yet I’m sure there must be some very decent podcasts produced by passionate people on this side of the pond. We had the opportunity to meet some UK based podcasters in Las Vegas at NMX including Peter Billingham, Mark Johnson, Rob Mobberley and Ben Adam-Smith. One of the best UK podcasts I listen to is the Brighton based Internet Marketing podcast with Kelvin Newman and Andy White.
There is no single place in the United Kingdom where UK based podcasters can gather together to share ideas, help each other and even meet up in person.
We know that UK podcasters are out there but we don’t know exactly where.
Here’s a message I received on Twitter this week:
Are You A UK Based Podcaster?
Izabela and I want to create a community with the goal that we can meet in real life and talk about podcasting, social media, online business and more. If you’re up for this idea then enter your name and email at our new website:
UK Podcasters
The first thing we’ll look to do is organize a real life meetup for UK podcasters. This is for you if you’re currently podcasting or thinking of starting a podcast and based in the UK. Are you in?
Go To… UK Podcasters
Finally, if you do one, feel free to share your UK podcast in the comments below.
I’m on the Isle of Man, and. Host a pub chat style podcast.
I have co hosts in Essex, Philadelphia and melbourne. We also more recently span off a new fitness podcast and a music show.
And would love to have more contact with show producers on a producer level.
That sounds like great fun Liam – I always wanted to visit the Isle of Man – one day I will!
Get your Essex based co-host and your good self over to UK Podcasters and let’s get a community started which can share and exchange ideas in the UK.
Thanks for listening 🙂
Congrats, on helping to “Bridge the Divide in New Media at the Ground Level.” Your (nitch down) start up for Podcasters in UK is wonderful news. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard Peter Billingham a few times commenting on Chris Brogan’s thoughts! This is how all good things begin
A FLOOD OF SUNSHINE!
Thanks so much for the encouraging comment and… I couldn’t agree more with you!
I’m really encouraged by the response I’ve seen so far to this idea and look forward to watching the UK Podcasters (online and offline) community grow 🙂
I’m really, really, really excited about this! Fantastic work Mike and Izabela!
Hopefully this time next year you’ll be listening to more UK based podcasts, like mine (!) Virtual Pizza, an entertainment, magazine style show which can be found at http://virtual-pizza.com
Ok, self-plug over! Happy to help if I can,and keep up the fantastic work you two!
Thanks Phil. I really appreciate the kind words of encouragement on here and also in your latest podcast episode!
What an absolutely brilliant idea. Something I’ve thought would be nice to have in the UK for a long time. Congratulations on taking the bull by the horns and getting something going. I think you guys are in as good a position as anybody to make a success of it, but I suspect a lot of work will be involved.
If I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Thanks Richard, I appreciate the support and offer of help too, I’ll be asking for some soon.
We’ve had a brainstorming day today and look forward to making a meetup reality in the not so distant future 🙂
Hi Mike, I think this is a great idea. I got directed to this episode from the UK Podcasters Google+ Community. It has always struck me that the US podcast community seems much more established than the UK, so any attempts to get us all together can only be good.
My husband and I produce a weekly podcast called Parental Geekery, which you can find at http://www.parentalgeekery.com. We talk about, errr, parenting and geeky stuff 🙂
I’ve signed up at UKPodcasters, looking forward to hearing more soon.
That’s fantastic Ruth!
Thanks so much for getting in touch and commenting. I’ll HAVE to listen as your podcast sounds right up my street 😉
Very interesting. I run a Facebook group called “Podcast Central” which has grown enormously, and as well as our own UK-based podcasts, it attracts many more from the UK and around the world. The group is at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/podcastcentral/
Thanks for sharing this community. I love that the podcasting community is so well connected online!
Great idea Mike and Izabela. More power to ya. I’ve signed up at UK Podcasters and look forward to taking part. I always have a problem with physical meetups because I live in the far, far West of Cornwall, so it takes ages to get anywhere (but the beaches are amazing)! Nevertheless I look forward to being a part of the community as much as possible.
Quick self-plug: I host the Meaningful Money podcast here. Personal Finance stuff explained in easy language. http://mful.tv/MMiTunes
Thanks Pete. Looking forward to seeing you in the online community.
I think there are many great reasons to have a future meetup down your way (not least because of those beautiful sandy beaches!) 😉
Well done guys. Your show gets better just like wine. (Except faster).
Thanks Albert. Izabela and I really appreciate that comment 🙂